Sorry to bring some sad news to those of you who know Warren Nelson of Aitkin, but I recently learned that he is seriously ill and now in a Minneapolis hospital. Accordingly, those who know him might have some extra time on this holiday weekend to visit, call, or write him, which I'm now told he would greatly appreciate. (When Warren first told me and a few others about his developing health problems a month ago, he did not want to tell birders in general so they wouldn't have to be concerned in case things improved.)
For the next few weeks he will be at Abbott Northwestern Hospital, 800 E 28th Street, Minneapolis MN 55407. His room number is currently E 4135, and that room phone is 612 863 2444. (I do not think he has a cell phone, but his e-mail address has been <[email protected]>.) The best time to visit seems to be before 8:00 pm; for additional information on visitations, see http://www.allinahealth.org/ahs/anw.nsf/page/visitingus#visiting_hours Warren has been exploring and birding Aitkin County and vicinity since the 1970s, when I first met him along with Terry Savaloja (deceased) and Jo & Steve Blanich. Along with them he had studied species like the Yellow Rails of McGregor Marsh and the Great Gray Owls of Pietz's Road / County Road 18, and over the years countless numbers of birders were able to see these and other sought-after specialties with Warren's guidance and the information he provided. Warren was presented with the MOU's Thomas S Roberts Award in 1990. (And speaking of the Blaniches, I also learned that Jo and Steve have recently moved into the Heartwood assisted living facility in Crosby: 500 Heartwood Dr, Crosby MN 56441. Their phone number is 218 545 8688, and their e-mail address is, or at least recently was: <[email protected]>.) I thank Diane and Steve Millard for providing me with this information, although it is unfortunate the news is bad and is being passed on to you on Thanksgiving. Perhaps they, Butch Ukura, or Cindy & Kim Risen will also be able to provide any updates on Warren's condition or his contact information. Kim Eckert, Duluth ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
